Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Pr 28.1 and following. Indeed, this chapter ends properly only in v. 2 of chapter 29: It contains, assembled in a continuous subject, the characters of the wicked and the righteous, from the poor to those who dominate. The wicked man runs away when no one pursues him, but the righteous are confident like a young lion (v. 1). This chapter begins with the striking picture of the guilty people, under the judgment of God that we now see being performed on them (Lev 26:36-39). Cain is the type of murderer of his brother (Gen. 4:12-16). We also find in this verse the image of a bad conscience that leaves no rest for man left to himself. The righteous, “having his heart, by sprinkling, purified of a bad conscience” (Heb. 10:22), stands up to the adversary and looks him in the face, without fearing him.
Because of the iniquity of a country, its princes are numerous; but by an intelligent man who has knowledge, stability is prolonged: This is verified by the history of Israel. The iniquity of the people results in the rapid succession of their kings and rulers. If a son of Wisdom arises as king (for intelligence and knowledge are, as we have seen so often, the attributes of Wisdom), it is because of him that the stability of his reign is prolonged. Indeed, we see throughout the history of Israel that the moral state of the people has not changed under a faithful and just reign, but that the faithful king is often favored by a long reign; witnesses Jehoshaphat, Joahs, Hezekiah, in contrast to the kings of Israel and the last kings of Judah.
The poor man who oppresses the wretched is a violent rain that leaves no bread: We can find the example in the story of Abimelech, son of the servant of Gideon (Judges 9) whose terrible domination was a violent rain that devastated everything in its path and impoverished Israel. Those who abandon the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law wage war on them: This is always the government of the people. If one abandons the word of God who alone can show the right way, one necessarily turns to the wicked and praises them to be well seen by them. Such was King Ahaz towards the King of Assyria (2 Kings 16). Those who allow themselves to be ruled by the law cannot bear evil, resolutely oppose the wicked and do not let them take over the management of affairs.
Evil men do not understand righteous judgment, but those who seek jehovah understand everything (v. 5; Eccl. 8:5-6).” For men who have given evil have lost the knowledge of an appreciation of things according to God; the wise, those who seek the Lord and fear Him, thereby have the knowledge and intelligence of everything, because they possess the truth. These principles are particularly related, like this whole passage, to God’s government in v. 2. Better the poor who walks in his integrity, than the perverse man in his double ways, although he is rich: One could object to poverty for the management of affairs, but how much it is preferable, when man is honest, perfect in his ways, to the rich man who lacks righteousness and uses falsehood in his conduct.
Whoever keeps the law is an intelligent son; but the companion of the debauched shames his father: Obedience to the law, to the written Word, is proof of intelligence in the established relations of God; association with moral corruption is an opprobrium cast upon the head of the family. He who increases his good by interest and usury, amasses him for the one who is good for the wretched: In the government of God the goods accumulated by the miser and the usurer will return to the merciful man who will employ them to rescue the wretched. Whoever turns his ear away so as not to listen to the law, his very prayer is an abomination (v. 9; Pr 15:8). For thewilful disobedience to the teaching of the law, the decision not to take it into account, is an insult to the Lord. The prayer of such people, their claim to remain in relationship with God and to be heard by Him, is for God an abomination, as hateful as idolatry. He who misleads men straight on a wrong path will himself fall into the pit he has dug; but men of integrity will inherit the good (v. 10; Pr 26:27). For themeans employed by a driver who uses his influence to mislead righteous men, will turn against him. The evil he had premeditated will reach him. The righteous will be rescued in time, and this effort by the enemy will only serve to bring them into possession of excellent things. The rich man is wise in his eyes, but the poor who is intelligent probes him: The wealth that gives importance is the source of self-satisfaction. This man believes himself to be wise and ignores true wisdom. The poor who is intelligent – but one is not intelligent without being a son of Wisdom – probes the rich and judges his pretensions. The judge is superior to the one who is judged. When the righteous rejoice, there is much glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide (vv. 12, 28; Pr 11:10; 29:2).
The joy of the righteous and glory go hand in hand. It will be so in the earthly and celestial realm. When the wicked come into play and dominate, there is no resource for men but to hide (Isa. 26:20). He who hides his transgressions does not prosper, but he who confesses and abandons them will obtain mercy: This verse corresponds to Ps. 32 and envisages the same circumstances that will accompany the restoration of the Remnant of Israel, during the establishment of the Kingdom. Blessed is the man who continually fears; but he who hardens his heart will fall into misfortune: This verse proclaims happiness which is combined with a continual fear – fear, for the wise, of letting evil enter his ways, consequence of the fear of the Lord. Fear is one of the great principles of Wisdom in Proverbs, just as happiness is one of the great results of faithfulness in the Psalms. Hardening of heart, sharing the fool, has misfortune as a consequence (Pr 14:16).
A roaring lion and a bear in pursuit of its prey is the wicked dominator of a poor people: All of the above deals with the general rules of God’s government. The following maxims bring us back to the prince (vs. 2 and 3). What an important rule for Hezekiah, this true son of Solomon! He found his people lowered and in poverty. He had to keep him from the wicked and the oppressor.
Accepting people is not good; even for a piece of bread a man will commit a transgression (v. 21; Pr 24:23). Because themeaning of people derives from the same source: there is its advantage. But, to whatever degree this preference is shown, it is not good. The proverb does not say: It is wrong, in order to attain the slightest nuances of this sin so common among men. The slightest advantage to be acquired pushes a man to commit a transgression. What a judgment of man’s heart! The man who has the evil eye hurries to have riches, and he does not know that famine will come upon him (v. 22; Pr 23:6). He who is envious and jealous hastens to enrich himself to surpass others (v.20). There will be in this world a judgment on him, he will be deprived of the very things by which he thought he had the upper hand over his neighbor. He who takes over a man will find favor in the following, rather than the one who flatters the tongue (v.23; Pr 27:5). For tolove a man is an act of fidelity and genuine interest in him. At first this may be badly received, but is later recognized by the one who was reprimanded and who at first stood for offended, and attracts us his favor. The flatterer, on the other hand, is judged by him as evil.
Who robs his father and mother, and says: This is not a transgression, this one is the companion of the destroyer (v. 24; Pr 19:26). For tofrighten one’s father and mother is not to honor them. He who does so seeks by subtleties to deny that it is a transgression (Matt. 15:5). He associates himself with the one who destroys what God has firmly established (Properly: the destructive man; Jer. 5:7; 22:7).” He who has the soul stirs up the quarrel; but whoever trusts in the Lord will be fattened (v. 25; Pr 13:10). For pride when it manifests itself excites the opposition of those whom it has wounded, and consequently the quarrel with them. Compare pride with trust in the Lord, made of humility and dependence, and who does not turn to the side of men, but to God alone: the soul that trusts in Him will be satiated and prosperous.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Spiritual boldness, examples
Mk 15:43 came Joseph of Arimathea, counselor of distinction, who himself also awaited the kingdom of God. He dared to go to Pilate, to ask for the body of Jesus. Acts 4:13 When they saw the assurance of Peter and John, they were astonished, knowing that they were men of the people without education; and they recognized them for having been with Jesus. Acts 4:31 When they prayed, the place where they were gathered trembled; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they confidently proclaimed the word of God. Acts 9:29 He also spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they sought to take his life.
- Wicked, opposed to the righteous
Ps 11:5 The Lord probes the righteous; He hates the wicked and the one who delights in violence. Ps 32:10 Many pains are the part of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord is surrounded by his grace. Isaiah 65:14 Behold, my servants will sing in the joy of their hearts; But you will cry out in the pain of your soul, and you will lament in the despondency of your mind. Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish over every soul of a man who does evil, first upon the Jew, then upon the Greek!
- The madness of men, foolish men, characteristics
-Atheism Ps 35:2 Seize the small and the great shield, And rise to rescue me!
-Slander Pr 10:18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.
-Deception of sin Pr 14:9 Fools play a game of sin, but among righteous men is benevolence.
-Contempt for instruction Pr 15:15 Every day of the unfortunate is evil, but the happy heart is a perpetual feast.
-quarrels Pr 18:6 The lips of the fool mingle with quarrels, And his mouth causes the blows.
-Disputes Pr 20.3 It is a glory for man to abstain from quarrels, but every fool indulges in the outburst.
-Self-confidence Pr 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved. Jer 17:11 Like a partridge that incubates eggs that it has not laid, Such is he who acquires wealth unjustly; In the middle of his days he must leave them, and in the end he is only a fool.
Hypocrisy Lk 11:39-40 But the Lord said to him: You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, and inside you are full of rapine and wickedness. 40 Foolish! has not he who has done the outside also done the inside?
- Divine Promises to the Generous
Ps 41:2 Blessed is he who is interested in the poor! On the day of misfortune the Lord delivers him; Pr 11:25 The beneficent soul will be satiated, and he who waters will himself be watered. Isaiah 58:10 If you give your own sustenance to the hungry, If you satiate the destitute soul, Your light will rise upon the darkness, And your darkness will be like noon. 2 Cor 9:7 Let everyone give as he has resolved in his heart, without sadness or constraint; for God loves the one who gives with joy.
From all the above we note that he whoconfides in his own heart is a fool; but who walks in wisdom, he will be delivered: For a fool trusts in his own heart; he is unable to know the thoughts of God. One only has to follow the path of wisdom which is precisely this knowledge, to find, at the end, deliverance. Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but who looks away will be filled with curses (Pr 19:17; 22:9. Forgenerosity toward the poor is, in the ways of God, a source of prosperity for the giver; but he who turns away from the poor is filled with curses, as in v.10 the faithful man was filled with blessings. When the wicked rise, the men hide; but when they perish, the righteous multiply (Pr 11:10; Pr 29:2). This verse also takes us back to the end time: There will be a season when the iniquitous will prevail over the people and when there will be for the faithful only the resource to hide in God’s prepared retreat for his own. When the oppressor has finally disappeared, a just people, immense in number, the new Israel, will reappear in the country and prosper there. The man who, being often taken back, kings his neck will be broken suddenly, and there is no cure (Pr 6:15).” This maxim also makes us think of the people of Israel: Often, taken from God (and with what patience!), they still roidied their neck. It will be broken suddenly, destroyed in an instant (Ps. 73:19), without remedy. For whenthe righteous multiply, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. It is first the multiplication of the righteous and then the oppression of the wicked. Because it was the opposite. And thesetwo things will happen at the end of the days: The Antichrist will rule, the righteous will hide; then, when the Iniquitous is broken, the righteous will multiply. Returning to their land, they will have to deal with the invasion of a new enemy, the Assyrian, until it is broken by Jehovah himself on the mountains of Israel. This is what is found in Ps. 107: “He blesses them and they multiply greatly; and he does not let their cattle diminish; And they diminish, and are burdened by oppression, unhappiness, and sorrow.” Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” Continuation of the proverbs on the moral life; Miscellaneous maxims (Pr 29).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.